Engine bay on Fire!!

[n944]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone could help. I parked my 51 plate Mini Cooper today at Tesco and noticed smoke from the engine bay - I popped the bonnet and noticed flames at the back of the engine which were kindly put out by a Tesco employee. The fire brigade were called to make sure that it was out properly. When the RAC man came out he tried starting it, which it did but there was smoke coming from the back of the engine. It did smell like the wiring burning.

Has anyone encountered this problem, or does anyone have any thoughts as to the best way in tackling the problem.

Any assistance will be appreciated.

[GBMINI]

Were the flames on the left hand side (ie: driver side in UK) under the windshield?
If so, it could be another ABS unit - see pics here on my website:
GBMINI (MINI Cooper) weblog: Rather scary but hopefully rare!

[n944]

Hi, thanks for the prompt reply. The flames were sort of in the middle maybe a little on the passenger side.

Interesting link, has scared the sh** out of me!!

So none of this is covered by BMW?

[GBMINI]

Should be an insurance job - but the insurers might try going after the car company - especially if they can find evidence that it's not just a one off event

[n944]

Quote: Originally Posted by GBMINI (original)

Should be an insurance job - but the insurers might try going after the car company - especially if they can find evidence that it's not just a one off event

Hi,

I have comprehensive insurance - do you think that the repair cost would be claimable? The engine hasn't been visually damaged as the fire was put out so quickly but the wiring loom probaby needs replacing along with any other damage. I have documentation from the fire brigade and also from the Tesco employee.

[GBMINI]

Yes, go straight to your insurer. Almost all UK coverage includes fire ...

[pnut_jet]

There's a thread over at NAM (northamericanmotoring.com) that shows a LOT of MINIs have had problems with fire in the engine bay. Check out this link:
Spontaneous Engine Bay Fires

If you can, please add your info to the thread so we can keep a running tally. Thanks!

[Rakey]

there a few threads on here about this, but most of the time you'll find that the user is new, and posts only about this subject, then doesn't take part in much else

the best has to be the Exploding MINI thread though, but by all means you can take all the users over to NAM that start these threads

[Greenie1]

could have bought sausages and had a BBQ.

Seriously, that would ***** me up if that ever happened to me.

[pnut_jet]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

there a few threads on here about this, but most of the time you'll find that the user is new, and posts only about this subject, then doesn't take part in much else

the best has to be the Exploding MINI thread though, but by all means you can take all the users over to NAM that start these threads

Where's the exploding MINI thread? (As you can tell by my avatar, I don't spend much time here either... I used to spend a lot of time on NAM but then got involved in a relationship and now I don't spend as much time on the web in general.)

My intent isn't so much to take all those users over to NAM as it is to keep a running tally somewhere of all the crispy MINIs that are reported. At some point BMW/MINI will have to acknowledge that there is a problem. The more info we have, the stronger the case. If you see any more threads started on the subject, would you send the author(s) over to the thread on NAM? It would be appreciated; and it's in the best interest of the global MINI community. Thanks!

[n944]

Hi guys,

an update:

I spoke to Stratstone in Tring (Herts) the dealer who carried out the ABS wiring loom recall. Their attitude was 'we don't really give a f***' - they were rude, abrupt and completely incompetent. They basically turned round and said 'well what do you want us to do'. They claimed they had never heard of mini's catching fire etc. I advised them to do a google search and they would find many sites and forums discussing these incidents. I was told that I should contact my insurance company, it wasn't their problem etc etc.

However, I was unwilling to do this, why should I lose my no claims discount and pay an excess for a problem that was most probably caused by the ABS loom which Startstone Tring 'rectfied'. I pursued Staratstone Tring and kept on getting the same response. I was given every excuse possible. Just as I was about to admit defeat and claim on my insurance, I bumped into an old friend who new a friend of a friend who had experienced the same incident and had recieved the same nonsense from Stratstone Tring and then spoke to Stratstone Maidenhead who were extremely helpful.

I called Stratsone Maidenhead and spoke to the service manager, a very sympathetic and nice person. He advised me to get the car over to them (around 30 miles away) - they would carry out a free engineer's report which I would need if I chose to take the insurance route. If the report showed that the fire was 'unexplained' or as a result of the ABS wiring loom, they would carry out the work and invoice BMW UK.

I had my Cooper recovered to Maidenhead and what struck me was that although both Maidenhead and Tring were part of the same group (Stratstone) there was a world of difference between the incompetent imbecile's at Tring and the people at Maidenhead.

I was called the following day and was told that Maidenhead had spoke to BMW UK who were 'concerned' that the car had caught fire and would be sending over an engineer to inspect the car. Maidenhead were called later the same day and told to carry out the work and invoice BMW UK.

The work was carried out and completed over a few days, it had a new alternator, starter motor, power pump, new loom and various other bits as well as a full valet. I was told that the bill was just shy of £2000

The car has been absolutely fine since. I will never use Stratstone Tring again, their behaviour and attitude was unacceptable. On the other hand Stratstone Maidenhead were wonderful and bent over backwards to help me - i'm extremely grateful to them.

[GBMINI]

What a tale ... you can't even blame ownership here, it must be purely down to the individuals working at each place. Glad you found some good guys